Hello,

This is DEV.JIN, in charge of the Meta Soulmate project. We are pleased to announce the release of Meta Soulmate’s first early access version 0.1.0. Although it was initially scheduled for October 30th, due to some oversight during the process of modifying store page options, the page was subject to review, which delayed the expected release date. We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused.

In this early access version 0.1.0, the core focus lies on the essential elements of character customization, which form the foundation of the project, as well as the key feature for VTuber functionality—Meta Soul Link (face tracking). Additionally, we have included Meta Screen, a separate screen system supporting transparency for basic broadcasting needs. For more detailed information on these features, please refer to the Meta Soulmate Wiki[metasoulmate.com], which is currently available in Korean only, but we plan to add English support soon. Other languages will also be added in sequence based on the application’s supported languages.

Starting with version 0.1.0, the Meta Soulmate project will implement monetization through memberships and additional character purchases. We fully anticipate and understand concerns and criticisms regarding charging for some functions and content at the early access stage. However, in order to reach the complete 1.0 version of this project, we need time, and during that time, a minimal level of funding is necessary. To maintain and complete the project, we made the difficult decision to introduce monetization. Nevertheless, we have set the minimum standards to balance user affordability and maintain the current state of our team, as shown below:

• Membership: $9.99 per month, or $59.94 annually with a 50% discount.
  
• Additional character purchases: The main protagonist characters (male and female) are provided for free. Other character body types can be purchased once for permanent ownership at $19.99.

We chose a membership policy as a way to provide users with various options while minimizing their financial burden. The membership allows unrestricted access to all features, excluding additional character purchases. During initial discussions on monetization, a costume-based charging model, commonly seen in other services, was suggested. However, envisioning users preparing for broadcasts by changing costumes multiple times led us to conclude that an all-access membership policy would be more suitable for our project. Non-members can still use most functions with certain limitations and are able to broadcast.

This is our first step. While we acknowledge there are areas that need improvement, we remain open to user feedback and are driven by clear goals and dedication. We promise once again that this project will be built with your input and collaboration.

The 0.1.1 minor patch, which will include functional adjustments and bug fixes, is scheduled for the first week of November 2024.

Thank you.

Hello, this is Producer Dev.Jin, the producer of Meta Soulmate.

First, I would like to sincerely apologize for the delay in our release, which was originally scheduled for October 29th. As of this afternoon (October 30th, PST), we are still awaiting final review from the Steam team.

After multiple inquiries, we have learned that the “Early Access” label applied shortly before the release triggered additional review. We acknowledge that this was entirely our oversight and deeply regret any disappointment caused to those eagerly anticipating the release.

We currently anticipate that the review may be completed as early as tomorrow evening (October 31st, PM PST), or by Saturday evening at the latest (November 1st, PM PST). We are fully committed to avoiding further delays and are working diligently to meet your expectations.

We extend our heartfelt thanks for your patience and continued support of Meta Soulmate, and we look forward to bringing you an exceptional experience upon release. Thank you once again.